This is the Babolat Alliance calling!...

Okay. Once more it's getting out of hand with some of these comments. (Like... REALLY?...)

And for my part, if I've been out of order, I'm sorry (although I'd point out it was the above provocotive post that prompted me in the first place.)

I can only repeat what has been said before - WHY READ OR CONTRIBUTE TO THIS THREAD IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT?... WHY??!!... that's what completely puzzles me... ???

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Thou whilst SLAY HIM!

I concur, especially Armand, that homosexual post was like an elementary school student pumping lead into innocent kids and administrators wandering the halls of their sacred institution.

Are you saying this thread should be Pro-Babolat and not (what i fear it is) an anti-EVERYTHING ELSE.
I can see your point, but threads like those have come and gone. I say let us carry on and go about your business in the GUYS ONLY BEST LEGS AND OTHER FEMALE ISSUES thread; It seems more your cup-a-tea.

Ridiculous question I know, but in mine haste to apply the magical property they doth call lead tape, I have become a tad confused over the amount I hath daubed upon thy pd plus. So to said question... on the quarter-of-an inch-width lead tape (to be precise, 6mm Pacific Balancer), HOW MUCH DOES AN INCH WEIGH? (I'm not quite sure how much the roll weighed altogether - the packet doesn't say - though it seemed fairly small), and I'm not sure what guy said now.)

FWIW...

Set up:
8 inches at 3 and 9
3 inches at 12
4 inches at very top of racquet handle/grip area

First impressions:
serve - even more power... quite often overhitting thy serves... racquet a bit heavier/slower to manouvre...
fh - even more power... quite often overhitting... far more stable and solid... general racquet weight/swing felt better...
bh - even more power... far more stable and solid... general racquet weight/swing felt much better - with the lead tape set up this really worked v/well for my 2hbh - Brilliant results!...
volleys, general net play - never once went to thy net so I wouldn't know!

I can only repeat what has been said before - WHY READ OR CONTRIBUTE TO THIS THREAD IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT?... WHY??!!... that's what completely puzzles me... ???

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Truly I have learned that 'Armand' be a name of a boy, for I have never encountered such a moniker in my time - I am enlightened! This thread stills bears the whiff of fun and merry japery, so we shall continue with our pops and jibes aplenty.

Let's move on! :mrgreen:

"O, beware, my lord of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on."

Truly I have learned that 'Armand' be a name of a boy, for I have never encountered such a moniker in my time - I am enlightened! This thread stills bears the whiff of fun and merry japery, so we shall continue with our pops and jibes aplenty.

Let's move on! :mrgreen:

"O, beware, my lord of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on."

Truly I have learned that 'Armand' be a name of a boy, for I have never encountered such a moniker in my time - I am enlightened! This thread stills bears the whiff of fun and merry japery, so we shall continue with our pops and jibes aplenty.

Let's move on! :mrgreen:

"O, beware, my lord of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on."

--From Othello (III, iii, 165-167)

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Greetings good Bard To The Court of Babolat,

'Tis warming to see thy poetic stanzas once more regaling this thread.
Frankly, the fun quotient hath not quite been as it should this last day or so.
My, 'tis enough to drive a man to the Scrumpy kegs, or worse - to the local fauna purveyor where a bag of the purest Babolation seaweed costs 10 groats...

So Osteo of the Parosis, I shalt inform thee of my game earlier - the game in which I doth annoint my new leaded up beast...

Rosskins 5, Opponent 5 (match abandoned due to overcrowding issue on busy courts on this first sunny day of spring... seriously!... that's tennis in the UK for you eh?!) What with the unusual but most wondrous sun beating down, what with the fiasco of overbooked courts, and what with this strange lead substance doing odd things to mine pd, it was resoundingly not as a normal game... btw Osteo, I know thee to be an artist of the verse, a sculptor of the quill, a verse expert who doth hold a light to John Benson and Shake Willspeare, but hath thyself ever dabbled in the strangley compulsive practice they call lead tapery?

"Just to include myself as a server of the Babolat alliance, and asking how to become a Pure Storm club member."

All thy has to do is open thy heart, and then the allow the spirit of Bab to lead ye...
Welcome to the Babolat Alliance Pure Storm Trooper, SHUNGO.

"I kupcayk would like to be inducted in with my Aeropro Drive...i shall bring forth the power of the hurricane."

Thou wishest to become an Aeropro Warrior?... prepare thyself for battle with thy invincible hurricane-powered strings! The Babolat Alliance doth hold you in a babolation embrace.

And by the by, from my perched position here from deep within the Babolation stronghold they doth call The Thousand Caves of Agoom, I can espy the hobgoblins busying themselves with two ceremonial spears...

17. At all available opportunities the festival known as Wimbledon must be ridiculed mercilessly - 'tis Babolat Alliance high command's firm belief that said tourney is but a stuffy, snobby affair that doth need new young life and vigour to shake it from its forelock tugging, Dutchess of York-prostrating serfdom! (The day the 'white only' uniform is dispensed with, we may consider our mission with Wimblydons very near complete.)

18. The birthdays of Sir Andrew of Roddick and Nadal The Iberian shall be national holidays.

19. We at Babolat High Command wish to launch a new drinks dispensing system for pro tourneys during breaks... to wit, said pro's should be allowed to select from close-to-hand barrels of mead, Scrumpy, Cider, Absinthe, Single-malt Whiskey, Brandy, and ye Egg-nog.

20. All pictorial evidence of Lady Kim of the Lowlands (that be Mistress Clysters to thee) either scantilly attired, or wearing little in the way of a boddice, should be immediately rendered to one Bush, George W. Monkey, (White House, Washington DC, et al), for he doth entertain most vivid fantasies of her personage and a favoured court position known as babolatio...

Per chance thee doth own a veritible assortment of makes - in which case we urge you most pressingly to take all spears other than Babolat and set them ablaze. Or if - as it says beneath thy post - thou ist already seriously affiliated to the tribe of Yonex, I'm afraid the sole position we have on offer is that of lattrine attendant in the Caves of Agoom.

I first set mine eyes upon the Holy Sabre three summers ago Whilst jousting with an inferior blade of the house of Wilson.

Verily upon my very first gaze upon the Holy sabre I was drawn to its power and infinite light. Although other knights of the tennis table indeed embarked on the quest to joust with the Holy Sabre only I was worthy to unleash its true power.

To those proud and worthy Knights noble enough to joust with the noble sabre I salute you. Let us reflect on the days of Yore when babolat ruled the entire land and swear by all those loyal to the house of babolat that we will defend our heritage to the death. Long Live the King! Long live the House of Babolat!!

I first set mine eyes upon the Holy Sabre three summers ago Whilst jousting with an inferior blade of the house of Wilson.

Verily upon my very first gaze upon the Holy sabre I was drawn to its power and infinite light. Although other knights of the tennis table indeed embarked on the quest to joust with the Holy Sabre only I was worthy to unleash its true power.

To those proud and worthy Knights noble enough to joust with the noble sabre I salute you. Let us reflect on the days of Yore when babolat ruled the entire land and swear by all those loyal to the house of babolat that we will defend our heritage to the death. Long Live the King! Long live the House of Babolat!!

Osteo, Is thy still out there in the far off wastelands of cyberspace? Or hast thou pushed off already for thy nightly appointment at the massage parlour ("Think I'll have ye special tonight please, Gwendolyne"...) Either way, me wonders what thee dost make of today's vanquishing of Roger Vader. I must say, I see this not so much as a cause for celebration, for as we're both aware, the afforementioned sorcerer has a wealth of evil and indeed supernatural powers from which to draw energy. That said though, 'tis heartening to witness that the big Swiss cheese can indeed get nibbled upon. Ah well, I suppose nothing can be settled in a proper fashion until destiny doth play its full and decisive hand...

From the Ancient Texts of Bab, Chapter 2, Ye king shall be userped by a new king (not to be confused with Billie Jean King, Don King, or Peking...)
"And lo! the King shall be replaced - defeated - out-jousted - toppled... and in thy victor's hand - in the palm of ye new king - there shall be espied the sacred rod of Babolat!"...

Anywayeth... time for me to water the horses, extinguish the small camp fire, beat the hobgoblins (it doth keep them on their toes), remove my armour, weapons and Babolat ******* studs, and finally, pick up ye old trusty bongington...

Good kupcaykeo... yes, indeed - nadal is an idol to the aero(pro) warriors... which is why, as with all AeroPro Warriors, you'll shortly have your entire back tatooed with the Great One's image as he doth tug at his butt.

Adieu

By the by, in case thy is alarmed following the recent story in the Babolat Herald concerning the Pure Controller who dids't end up with the Justin of Timberlake tattoo upon his chest - fear thee not. Said tattoo artist was recently paid a visit from 12 Pure Controllers who did escort him off the premises and over to the overhanging cliffs of Rafter's Cove from whence as a projectile he was cast out into the abyss.

I have just returned from bathing myself in a pool of asses milk my lord (although the inscriptions on the vial of blue liquid confusingly read as 'Radox for tired muscles'), whilst keeping my shell-like lump of auditory apparatus a-tuned to the tennis on the telly-box in the background.

Our noble Latin-friend of wielding Babolats, Senor Gonzalez of Chile, has been playing Sod the Swede - I dare not mention tidings of this encounter in case it is deemed too early for the "Pro Match Results" forum!

A cuppa and a cream bun awaits me before bed - an ideal combination I have told myself, but I offer some more Shaking of thine Willy in the meantime ...

KING ROBIN of SODERLING
A Storm! a Storm! my kingdom for a Storm!

SENOR GONZALEZ
Withdraw, my lord! I'll help you to find a Storm.

KING ROBIN
Slave, I have set my life upon a tennis court,
And I will stand the hazard of the line call:
I think there be six Head Radical in the bag:
Five have I slain to-day instead of him.--
A Storm! a Storm! my kingdom for a Storm!

I would discourage taking the weight off if it was a winning combination. You understood that decreasing the weight would lead to less stability, but were delighted at the easier swing. This is what happens when separating men from mice. I endured the same difficulties. The first thing I did when I took out my Bab for the first time with this lead setup was serve. I served for three hours STRAIGHT! At first I immediately felt my elbow tendons strain, but I expected this. I told myself, "******(my real name) you've never had elbow pain in your life.why? because you have good technique. So don't rush it slow everything down and THINK." surely enough by the end of those bright and hot three hours I sent my last ball over the net with perfect spin, meticulous placement, and more pace than I had expected I could do in one session. If you strengthen your arm you will be able to swing just as fast, but even better. That is a long-term goal.

I'm not an idiot. I did very well in my anatomy and physiology course. The most important thing I could do was give my elbow a very good stretching and consume about 50g. of protein, which was a powder i chose to mix in my Raisin Bran cereal, for the rebuilding my body was going to do while I slept at night.

I made a choice not to take it easy, and gradually work up to the high swingweight. I went for it cold turkey and liked it and I won't take a step backward.

For the sake of having pride in your game I say stick with it; persevere.
I don't know how old you are or if you just play for kicks,

If you found the game was easier to play, and thus more enjoyable, then stick with your style. Do it. I won't judge you. I don't have that right.
I'm looking at long term improvement so I'm learning(and winning) to handle more weight because it makes a difference to me.
(Preaching aside)- I notice that you are placing your weight in 3 chunks (3,9,12) the setup I was implying was to use 2 layers of 20'' strips centered at 12 that reach to 3 and 9. Try it because your still experimenting and I think you'll see a difference.
I find it so funny you call it my "Battle Axe" that I started saying it now!

I will lastly say I believe you should raise your game to meet your racquet. You are already winning with it!

Don't forget the protein and try the strips method,

~"Power" Tursa of the Babolat Alliance, Self proclaimed leader of "Pure" Storm Troopers and Trailblazing "Axe"-wielder of the Pure Drivers.

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Sadly... Your right...
My heavy weights at the handles must have given it all away...
Here's my approach, I started all over with your setup...
I stipped all weights off... added just 4 grams at the 6inches from the butt...
Played great singles last night... 8-4... Got the kicks of a lighter bab... hehehe
I think I'll gradually add 1 layer lead(inverted 'U') from 3 to 9... and go adding from there...

I play, eat and dream tennis... I'll do everything to get better...
Been on designer whey for breakfast shakes... bench press 150lbs...

Sadly... Your right...
My heavy weights at the handles must have given it all away...
Here's my approach, I started all over with your setup...
I stipped all weights off... added just 4 grams at the 6inches from the butt...
Played great singles last night... 8-4... Got the kicks of a lighter bab... hehehe
I think I'll gradually add 1 layer lead(inverted 'U') from 3 to 9... and go adding from there...

I play, eat and dream tennis... I'll do everything to get better...
Been on designer whey for breakfast shakes... bench press 150lbs...

I wish you all the luck in the world.
I don't know if you ever mentioned if you had a two-handed or one-handed backhand (I believe two), but I find that my setup produces the most phenominal two-handers. Forehands have two be reigned in a bit, but that is the accepted trade off understood in the SW2 theory.

*You bench 150!, jeez all I care for is repping the bar.
Keep it up,
~Tursa

Ignore Osteo's ribbing about ale consumption - (I doth guess it was he himself who was last night pole-axed and laid waste to by the grog) - such words as thou hast writ dost hit the spot as fulsomely as a rafael Nadal buggy whip shoteth sent a-roaring down ye line. For indeed it seems to me that thy has a deep understanding of what they doth variously call The Mysteries and Secrets of Bab, as well as being up-to-the-eye-balls-informed as to Babolation folk-lore and customs...

"Verily upon my very first gaze upon the Holy sabre I was drawn to its power and infinite light. Although other knights of the tennis table indeed embarked on the quest to joust with the Holy Sabre only I was worthy to unleash its true power"...

Thou is most pertinent and correct! For while the transcendant glow doth attract many an accolyte, ultimately 'tis only a few good men that can weild the God-kissed nimrod ("You want a Babolat?... YOU CAN'T HANDLE A BABOLAT!...) You see, what thy recreational parks practitioners and all the rest fail to comprehendeth is this... You dost not get to choose the sacred spear - THE SACRED SPEAR DOTH CHOOSE YE!...

"To those proud and worthy Knights noble enough to joust with the noble sabre I salute you. Let us reflect on the days of Yore when babolat ruled the entire land and swear by all those loyal to the house of babolat that we will defend our heritage to the death. Long Live the King! Long live the House of Babolat!!"

Indeedy!... to all ye Pure Drivers, Aeropro Warriors, Pure Storm Troopers, PDR Gladiators, etcettykins, etcettykins - we doth salute thine gallantry and wondrous sabre skills! For this is The Noble Breed... A Breed Apart...The Lucky Few (whom the Gods have selected)... and to quote once more from The Ancient Texts of Bab - "Those that do toil and joust with the stick of Babolat shall be eternally rewarded - Valhalla and Nirvana awaits thee (and we're not talking Brian Valhalla or Seattle grunge groups here"...)

Good Attila, there be a vacancy within the ranks of our Scholars department - dost thy accept? (By the by, the last personage to deny such a request was forced to listen to MacEnroe The Mad Man's inane and endless courtside chatterings and inanities for an entire weekend... with predictable results.)

Btb2, The Babolat Alliance holds you unto its cleavage and bids ye good welcome. Cermonial sword being knocked up this very second.

With your knowledge and experience what does my recent lead tape exploits suggest in terms of what might I expect, or what I should alter, or whatever...

9 and 3 o'clock: 12 gs (2x6 gs)
12 o'clock: 1 g
top of handle: 1 g

As is obvious I am new to this lead tapery business, but I've tried to collate much info and apply said info to my own game, level, etcettykins.

BTB, have only weilded trusty nimrod once but I found 2hbh AMAZING!... serve and fh a lot more powerful, but I need to learn to properly harness it... also found - no great surprise! - pd a little harder to manouvre on serves...

Any advice, hints, tips greatfully received. Sorry for doufassy ignorance in this advanced field of racquetdom. I thank thee...

I believe the top of the handle weight aides your swing-through...
I believe'th this weight should not be restricted only to the top of the handle...
Since this can be easily moved try sliding it down by increments and simulate serves w/o the ball...
Look'th for the easiest swing... And maybe try to add weight since this balances the lead on the head...
FYI only, may be different for you sire: mine is 4g at 6inches from the butt...
(Top of the handle is about 8 inches from the butt)
Every weight you add affects everything else, since the hoop weights are immovable the only variable would be the handle weights...

My ideas are but ideas 'til it satisfies your dear Rosskins...
Tursa may have something to say... For which/whom I am an eager listener...

With your knowledge and experience what does my recent lead tape exploits suggest in terms of what might I expect, or what I should alter, or whatever...

9 and 3 o'clock: 12 gs (2x6 gs)
12 o'clock: 1 g
top of handle: 1 g

As is obvious I am new to this lead tapery business, but I've tried to collate much info and apply said info to my own game, level, etcettykins.

BTB, have only weilded trusty nimrod once but I found 2hbh AMAZING!... serve and fh a lot more powerful, but I need to learn to properly harness it... also found - no great surprise! - pd a little harder to manouvre on serves...

Any advice, hints, tips greatfully received. Sorry for doufassy ignorance in this advanced field of racquetdom. I thank thee...

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Rosskins,

I believe your racquet is around 11.64 oz. strung.
Are you comfortable swinging it how it weighs currently?

Since you are adding 14g. to the racquet in chunks I would like you to try your results with "strips", not "chunks".

Since I add 20g. to the hoop and only just go a teensy bit Head Heavy; you only adding 14, will have no need to counterweight in the handle.

I recommend using the lightest lead per in.^2 so I can apply it in long strips that add more stability overall to the hoop.

I use Gamma: .5g for every in.^2 and thusly accomplish my 20g. with 20" long strips centered at 12 for 10g. and then add a layer (of the same measure) on top= 20g. in total.

You would have even more stability than me if you use one layer of 28" (assuming you use Gamma) centered at 12. Of course splitting the lead in half so it is on both sides of the stringbed.

This should still leave you headlight. If you want more serve power take 2'' off each side (4g.) and go to the top of the handle.
If more spin and groundstroke power is desired than take that amount and stick it inside the trap door set in the butt of all Babolat handles.

Continue this balancing act of taking away from the head and adding to the handle strategically until you find your most comfortable game.

The best part about strips= if you hate it just cut them back into chunks!

Forgot to mention my spear be pd plus; and that in this first instance (with my small amounts of lead tape), I was aiming for weight around the weight of stock Pdroddickstick (with a view to stretching right up later to mythical 12 oz mark.) Would also add that though I said serve was harder to manouvre, this doesn't mean I couldn't handle the weight per se (it was just different...?) And lastly, I must say though that power on fh and serve too felt mega (and I only put 1g at 12 0'clock!)

Good Attila, there be a vacancy within the ranks of our Scholars department - dost thy accept? (By the by, the last personage to deny such a request was forced to listen to MacEnroe The Mad Man's inane and endless courtside chatterings and inanities for an entire weekend... with predictable results.)

Btb2, The Babolat Alliance holds you unto its cleavage and bids ye good welcome. Cermonial sword being knocked up this very second.

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Mylord.... Methinks thou sayest that I mightest dine with the Knights of the Babolat Table?

Verily I not only accept this invitation but I dost consider this an honor of the highest order.

Kind sir...I must report of a traitor in our midst. The knight I speak of was a noble knight who has been possesed by an evil Demon. Methinks that we must send our bravest knights on a quest to deal with the evil Demon and bring back its HEAD sabre on a silver platter.

The once noble knight that has fallen to the ways of the dark that I speak of is none other than Sir Ljubcic of Croatia.

Whom dost Thou contemplate to send on this quest. Good sir Nadal of Spain already has his hands full with the most evil serpent Roger Federer . Whilst sir Gonzalez of Chile has just ended his Joust. I would embark on this quest myself mylord; but methinks my skills are not strong enough to deal with the wrath of the verily evil possesed demon of Sir Ljubcic of Croatia.

I beseech you Mylord....let us embark on a crusade and unleash our armies to deal with fallen Knights such as good sir Ljubcic of Croatia. Let us restore the days of Yore when the House of babble ruled the land. Long live the King!! Long live the House of Babble!

Consider thy dinner reservation booked! We at Babolat Alliance High Command look forward to dining with thee over spit-roasted venison and the finest root vegetables from the forrest of Snapeley-Bottom. By the by, we shall talk of this parlous problem thou dost mention at the luncheon. (BTB2, er, do remembereth to bring along thy credit cards.)

My, 'Tis ghostly quiet on this thread tonight. What disturbs thee so, good legions of the Babolat bat? Be there the three witches out on the heath tonight? If so, I swear thee to a man, the repugnant, shrivelled trio of Sue Barker, Virginia Wade, and Tracey Austin cannot cause thee any real harm (though I wouldn't accept any drinks from bubbling cauldrons, if I were you.) And if it be not witches, possibly be it Tim 'Mad Dog' Henman out to reek his usual wrathful vengence? Or worse, hast thou espied Kareem Abdull Jalindseydavenport a-bounding this way? Or is it the fearful countenance of the half-man/half-rat, Radek Stepanek? Or is it the ear-splitting shreiks and howls of the long-legged Sharapova? Or worst of all grim predictions... DUN! DUN! DUUUUUUUNN!... please do not tell me... (gulp)... no, you don't mean!... (help!)... RUN!... RUN!... RUN FOR THE HILLS!... 'tis Murray of Caladonia!... HE SEEKS FRESH MEAT!.... the Murray-Man is coming!... Brad Gilbert says he must grow another 4 inches today!... GET THEE AWAY FROM THE LANKY SCOT!... RUUUUUUUUUUUN!...

Further to last night's disturbances, I doth here list but a small peice of evidence regarding Murray of Caladonia's much altered condition...

Andy Murray's coach, Brad Gilbert, may persist in calling him "Junior" but everything about the 19-year-old's play and demeanour at the moment suggests that he is growing up fast.

Physically, he reckons he put on five or six pounds during December, though unlike the post-Christmas excess gained by the rest of us, his added bulk is the legacy of hours of sprint drills, weight sessions and on-court training designed to get him ready for the season ahead. But the change in Murray is not just physical. The contrast between the boy who flunked his first Australian Open 12 months ago and the man who is preparing for this year's tournament is so huge that, as far as Murray is concerned, January 2006 might just as well have happened in another lifetime.

"I think I've learned to deal with things better, and I'm much stronger, not just physically but mentally as well. I don't let things get to me as much," said Murray. "And also the work that I've been doing off court, I just feel like I'm much more balanced on the court, I'm not getting overpowered by guys that are much bigger than me. And I think that I was a kid last year still, you know, I was a bit immature on the court; now I'm starting to grow up a little bit. So I feel much better than I did this time last year, that's for sure."
Yes! 'Tis most remarkable the results that doth accrue from the eating of HUMAN FLESH!

I'm in, but dude you need to cut down on the caffeine!
4x Pure Drive Roddicks

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A bearer of not just one but FOUR of the mighty PD Roddick-sticks!?... (Hmm... there couldst be a vacancy for you in the armoury? I shalt check it out. ) We don't actually hear enough praise regarding this awesome wand, I doth reckon. Anywayeth, the Babolat Alliance bids thee welcome. You shalt be joining your fellow PDR Gladiators shortly, whereupon thou can expect the usual armed-forces induction of brainwashing, degradation, and brutality... but hey! You do get to keep a ceremonial Babolat Alliance racquet!?

On the seventh day did arrive the Bard's Babolats of Storm plus his Pro Team 12 bag (and a free Bab-cap and Bab-balls, which were heartily accepted in lieu of the delay in delivery!)

Ah yes, the games will soon begin as I prepare over the coming weeks to play with my most wondrous tools of tennis-like appearance in England, Montreal and Vancouver!

However, it is with great hope a-forethought, that Air Canada are not as hopeless as they used to be. Perhaps I should be happy that I have a reasonable chance that I will not be flying upon one of their Hindenburg-Class or Sopwith Camel-style crates?

As one fine herald shouted from the Montreal Gazette: "Air Canada: we're not happy until you're unhappy!"

And with fingers crossed, I contemplate the fate of my swinging Babolats in the hands of those Canadian air-stewardesses ... what could possibly go wrong?

"On the seventh day did arrive the Bard's Babolats of Storm plus his Pro Team 12 bag (and a free Bab-cap and Bab-balls, which were heartily accepted in lieu of the delay in delivery!)"

Such a wondrous inventory as to make each and every Pure Storm Trooper proud! For although you be of a playwrighterly and poetic disposition, I know thee also to be of a fierce nature when it comes to whipping out thy whooping stick. To wit, show no mercy! Let the Dunlopian tubes and Princesses and Headaches suffer most grievously as thy Pure Storm is set to 'carnage' mode! Osteo, we doth wish thee a bountiful success as thy traverses fair England and that other colony country you did speak of - I confess I forget the name of it now already (although if you should per chance lose said matches against said opposition, you might like to study the Ancient Texts - Chapter 27: 'Bringing Shame and Disgrace Upon Yourself and the Babolat Nation, and Five Recommended Methods of Suicide".)

BTB, I know not since when you've patrolled the land of William Shakeraquet, but I can confirm to thee it now be so woefully expensive a modest cheese sandwhich doth cost 18 pounds; Londinium now hast but seven tennis courts throughout it's area; and Tony Blair has just proclaimed he shall wage war upon his own people unless we all convert to Christianity before Easter Sunday.

Leonardo,

"We put numbers on our Babolat Alliance... so we may keep track of our following...

Awakened in their dreams, afflicted by strange voices, disturbed by strange premonitions, it be from every corner of the globe did'st The Chosen Ones hear The Message (and no, we dost not refer to the old skool Grandmaster Flash song either)... 'This is the Babolat Alliance calling!'... 'This is the Babolat Alliance calling!'... 'This is the Babolat Alliance calling!...

Sickened by the appalling trend of 'Babolat bashing', a twisted, jealousy-inspired malady that the devotees of other racquets do so put out there ("Oh, I did one time play with a bab for a few games, and then the entire right side of my body didst become lame. I contracted lock-jaw, jaundice and beri-beri. I lost the use of my legs. My ears turned gangrenous. And my fingers and toes did verilly drop off...') And with a secret yearning to learn more of their banished traditions, customs and folklaw (most of which doth only exist now within The Ancient Texts of Bab - and some of which doth relate in certain other respects to mead consumption, wenching, the partaking of the Babolation sea-weed, and other pleasure-giving persuits and hobbies), The Chosen Ones didst take heed of The Message...

To wit, the Babolat bashing was to now be cut down as decisively as Mistress Brittney of Speares's flowing mane was not that long ago cut down to the very bristle. Said Babolat bashing was to be rebuffed, redirected and replaced - replaced by a fierce and unmatchable love of the Babolat nimrod, and a pride and belief in our court skills. Moreover, the Message didst reveal that the way the war should be waged was not with a wayward and wanton use of alliteration and wasted 'wer' sounds - ahem - but, rather, through the forming of relevant legions and corps...

Ergo, dependant on your wand, you wouldst belong to either the Pure Storm Troopers, the Aeropro Warriors, the Pure Controllers, The Pure Drivers, the the PDR Gladiators, et al.

And thus The Chosen Ones, Tht Babolatian Knights, The First Score and More, They They Dost Agree To Speak Ye Utter Ludicrous Nonsense, didst respond to the words of Rosskins of Tewkkesbury - (for it be he who hast been as a mouthpeice to The Message) - and didst write their names into thy books of history. For whence the Babolat Alliance called out, the following legends did answer!...

Noble Alliance members, please provide missing info so records can be updated. It may also be added that various High Command positions are still to be filled. And it may further be added that damsels, fair maidens, and all manner of ye dirty wenches be most welcome to join in the japery and share thy cute but limited tennis knowlege.

And to all Babolat Alliance members... POST!... POST!... AND POST AGAIN!
('It is through thy postings on Talkius Tennisicus that the word, like ye mass of peanut butter and jelly upon the bread of Elvis Ye Pelvis, shall be thusly and with a similarly deadly effect so spread'... Extract from The Ancient Texts of Bab.)

LAST NIGHT'S POST WITH IMPORTANT AMMENDMENTS ON MEMBERSHIP LIST (KEEP ME INFORMED AND I CAN UPDATE LIST REGULARLY):

Awakened in their dreams, afflicted by strange voices, disturbed by strange premonitions, it be from every corner of the globe did'st The Chosen Ones hear The Message (and no, we dost not refer to the old skool Grandmaster Flash song either)... 'This is the Babolat Alliance calling!'... 'This is the Babolat Alliance calling!'... 'This is the Babolat Alliance calling!...

Sickened by the appalling trend of 'Babolat bashing', a twisted, jealousy-inspired malady that the devotees of other racquets do so put out there ("Oh, I did one time play with a bab for a few games, and then the entire right side of my body didst become lame. I contracted lock-jaw, jaundice and beri-beri. I lost the use of my legs. My ears turned gangrenous. And my fingers and toes did verilly drop off...') And with a secret yearning to learn more of their banished traditions, customs and folklaw (most of which doth only exist now within The Ancient Texts of Bab - and some of which doth relate in certain other respects to mead consumption, wenching, the partaking of the Babolation sea-weed, and other pleasure-giving persuits and hobbies), The Chosen Ones didst take heed of The Message...

To wit, the Babolat bashing was to now be cut down as decisively as Mistress Brittney of Speares's flowing mane was not that long ago cut down to the very bristle. Said Babolat bashing was to be rebuffed, redirected and replaced - replaced by a fierce and unmatchable love of the Babolat nimrod, and a pride and belief in our court skills. Moreover, the Message didst reveal that the way the war should be waged was not with a wayward and wanton use of alliteration and wasted 'wer' sounds - ahem - but, rather, through the forming of relevant legions and corps...

Ergo, dependant on your wand, you wouldst belong to either the Pure Storm Troopers, the Aeropro Warriors, the Pure Controllers, The Pure Drivers, the the PDR Gladiators, et al.

And thus The Chosen Ones, Tht Babolatian Knights, The First Score and More, They They Dost Agree To Speak Ye Utter Ludicrous Nonsense, didst respond to the words of Rosskins of Tewkkesbury - (for it be he who hast been as a mouthpeice to The Message) - and didst write their names into thy books of history. For whence the Babolat Alliance called out, the following legends did answer!...

Noble Alliance members, please provide missing info so records can be updated. It may also be added that various High Command positions are still to be filled. And it may further be added that damsels, fair maidens, and all manner of ye dirty wenches be most welcome to join in the japery and share thy cute but limited tennis knowlege.

And to all Babolat Alliance members... POST!... POST!... AND POST AGAIN!
('It is through thy postings on Talkius Tennisicus that the word, like ye mass of peanut butter and jelly upon the bread of Elvis Ye Pelvis, shall be thusly and with a similarly deadly effect so spread'... Extract from The Ancient Texts of Bab.)

Beware the ides of March indeed... all opponents of Sir James (jrstriker12) should beware as I have just ventured to ye olde prop shop to have a new set of synth gut and hurricane pro strings installed in mine trusty PDR. Beware the extrodinarly powerfull forehand and extremely sharp slice service once mine racket is returned to my possesion.

Also, all Babalotians should enjoy the awesome desplay of skill, daring, and combat skill exhibited by the Sr. Andrew of Roddick, Pure Drive Galdiator, and the lethal Iberan Sr. Rafa Nadal, Aerodrive Warrior, this weekend at the tourament.

"My fine new Storms were all ready for action fresh out of the wrapping, but on these Ides I could not play, as a "stinking cold" has been upon yours truly!"

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Osteo, pull yourself together, man! Would Sir Winnie of Churchill have put off the Battle of Britain because he had 'a stinking cold'? Did Davey Crocket decide not to help defend the Alamo owing to 'a stinking cold' (caught off his partner Tubbs)? Did Neil Armstrong one time declare from the moon ''This is one big step for man... and... Hey folks, I've got a stinking cold. Screw this for a laugh. I'm heading back to earth and pronto!?" Release thy Pure Storms from out of the packaging, get thee up from thy sick bed, and go and make the Babolat Alliance proud of thee! That's an order!

"Beware the ides of March indeed... all opponents of Sir James (jrstriker12) should beware as I have just ventured to ye olde prop shop to have a new set of synth gut and hurricane pro strings installed in mine trusty PDR. Beware the extrodinarly powerfull forehand and extremely sharp slice service once mine racket is returned to my possesion.

Also, all Babalotians should enjoy the awesome desplay of skill, daring, and combat skill exhibited by the Sr. Andrew of Roddick, Pure Drive Galdiator, and the lethal Iberan Sr. Rafa Nadal, Aerodrive Warrior, this weekend at the tourament.

I am sure that each legion will cheer on thier champion".

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Good Sir James, Guardian of the Mead Kegs, thy newly installed synth gut and hurricane pro doth bode fantastically well for thee - and altogether disasterously for thy opponents on the court. Unlike the afforementioned above example of nincompoopery and duty-shirking, you're proud and undaunted words are an inspiration to us all who doth bear the insignia of the Babolat Alliance upon their right buttocks (or the other for 'lefties'.) And by the by, 'tis most commendable that you doth remind members of the impending battles as regards Sir Andrew of Roddick and Nadal The Iberian... although the cable reception here in the caves is most impeded, and over the course of the weekend, purely for scientific and research purposes, I am expected to attend a tequilla imbibing ceremony - nonetheless I shall make every effort to witness these Babolation titans at work.

More from 'The Ancient Texts of Bab' - Chapter 4, List Of Evil-doers And Dwellers In The Dark...

"And lo! The dark side shalt once again resurge and rekindle. And they shalt be led by the fearsome harbinger of defeat - the one they doth call ROGER VADER. Good Babolations practise extreme caution around the visage of this darkly knight, for he hath been majorly concocted and moulded in that soul destroying, joyless, culturally barren wasteland they doth call Switzerland, and much like the fondue that his fellow Switzerfolk do so habitually chomp upon, his evil powers, whilst at first they seem most enticing, it doesn't take long before thee begins to want to vomit up and chunder free-form.
But mark these words - there be not just one exponent of evilosity, there be a GROUPING of such, an ungodly grouping, a veritible colony of craven wickedness unglimpsed by mankind since the doomladen days of misery and self-induced blood-letting otherwise known as 'time spent having to listen to Celine Dion.'
Here be but an initial list. Note their names, I pray thee... so as well as ROGER VADER there be:
MURRAY OF CALADONIA... ANDREW OF THE HIGHLANDS... THE MURRAY-MAN (Be forewarned that his strange moods and extremely abnormal much accelerated growth rate be fueled by the eating of human flesh)...
RADEK THE MUTANT... RAT-FACE STEPANEK (He doth eat tennis rackets)...
ELENA DEMENTED... (She wilt come to the fore during thy fed cup)...
MAURESMO THE INVINCIBLE... AMELIE OF THE SQUARE JAW... (No. 1 female practitioner of evil)...
IVAN THE BARBARIAN... LUBY THE OGRE... (Looks & plays like Shrek)...
MACENROE THE MAD-MAN... (He doth endlessly and obsessivly drone on)...
BRADLEY OF GILBERT... BIG BAD MAD BRAD... (As his former sabre trainer he doth know the secret techniques of Sir Andrew of Roddick)...
MARAT THE RACKET SMASHER... MARAT THE MANIAC... SAFIN THE HEAD-CASE... (Known by several names which all relate to his unsound mind)...
And away from the courts of racquetry, look for these names too, for they doth also stride within the shadow of darkness:
THE WIGGLES... (Everyone should be highly cautious, specially children)...
TONY BLAIR... (He be-eth the Great Liar and USA's rent boy partner)...
GEORGE BUSH 2... THE DRAFT-DODGING, ALCOHOLIC, NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING, MONKEY-BRAINED ONE... (Even scarier than George Bush 1)...
DAVID BECKHAM... THE GREAT OVER-PRICED AND ALTOGETHER OVERATED ONE... (He always be accompanied by the walking stick aka Victoria)...
UGLY BETTY... (Below wig & glasses lurks an evil troll called Ug )...
TOM CRUISE, BRAIN-WASHED WIFEY, AND ALIEN BABY... (Beware of all)...
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, OTHERS IN ROYAL FAMILY... (Beneath human coating they be the fetid, hideously deformed alien race called Wanzak)...
PARIS HILTON... (Pay no attention to the monied celebrity ****ty slapper)..."

Good Babolations, please take heed of the above wise and aged words. Plus also, shouldst ye all have any suspicians, as in names you'd like add to this List Of Evil-doers And Dwellers In The Dark, please posteth their names forthwith!

For now I bid all Alliance members a good day... 'tis time for my weekend massage pummeling courtesy of Trina, Helga, Anika, Lottie and Greta... Adieu...

Ok I have got a serious Babolat question and I do not mean to degrade or belittle any of the artisitc or alternate styles of writing that have previously been used in this thread but I would appreciate a more generic and modern english response so as I can fully comprehend the valuable information that you will hopefully bestow upon me. And in appreciation to your creative writing in this thread I will also try to write this with a little more style than usual.

Well so far I have been yeilding the Head Flexpoint Prestige Midplus and I do enjoy it, it hits some good shots at times when I am playing good and hit the sweetspot. It has nice pop and when I hit the sweetspot I can hit some good deep shots with spin and pace. However on off center shots they ball is flat, or has no pace of it will loop up really high in the air. I have to have good positioning and can't swing too fast or I'll frame it or hit offcenter. The closed string pattern on the weapon dost not always provide me with all the spin I could get.

So I am considering getting a PDR. I demoed the new PD with cortex briefly and my impression was that I hit some nice hard forehands, it had amply pop, good pace and ok control that i could prolly get used to.

Would this raquet help to keep advancing me? Can I still become a better player? Or does this racquet inhibit you on the stickly babolat style?

So please help me out in my decision (as a western fh and two handed backhand player) to swithc to the babolat or not!

Ok I have got a serious Babolat question and I do not mean to degrade or belittle any of the artisitc or alternate styles of writing that have previously been used in this thread but I would appreciate a more generic and modern english response so as I can fully comprehend the valuable information that you will hopefully bestow upon me. And in appreciation to your creative writing in this thread I will also try to write this with a little more style than usual.

Well so far I have been yeilding the Head Flexpoint Prestige Midplus and I do enjoy it, it hits some good shots at times when I am playing good and hit the sweetspot. It has nice pop and when I hit the sweetspot I can hit some good deep shots with spin and pace. However on off center shots they ball is flat, or has no pace of it will loop up really high in the air. I have to have good positioning and can't swing too fast or I'll frame it or hit offcenter. The closed string pattern on the weapon dost not always provide me with all the spin I could get.

So I am considering getting a PDR. I demoed the new PD with cortex briefly and my impression was that I hit some nice hard forehands, it had amply pop, good pace and ok control that i could prolly get used to.

Would this raquet help to keep advancing me? Can I still become a better player? Or does this racquet inhibit you on the stickly babolat style?

So please help me out in my decision (as a western fh and two handed backhand player) to swithc to the babolat or not!

Click to expand...

"Our team found the Pure Drive Roddick to offer improved stability and comfort from every area of the court compared to the Pure Drive Team. There's no doubt that the increased weight of the Pure Drive Roddick was a better fit for our "player's racquet" loving test crew. While we welcomed the added weight, we were also pleased to find the power and spin friendly response we loved with the Pure Drive to still be very much intact. If you are an aggressive player who loves hitting big forehands, it doesn't get much better than this. There's no doubt the Pure Drive Team has redefined the player's racquet category by attracting more advanced players to stiffer, lighter racquets, and this version just sweetens the deal. Advanced players who may have found the Pure Drive family too light in the past may find this Roddick version an ideal fit."

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Extracts from Tennis Warehouse Racquets section. And this be but ye final overall conclusion - there be much more chapters of detailed breakdowns on various areas to do with this stick. Plus there also be detailed reviews, descriptions, and pictures on ALL ye top Babolat nimrods. I tell thee, check it out. For this be so rousingly pleasure-inducing, me thinks this be a form of racquet pornography!

Ok I have got a serious Babolat question and I do not mean to degrade or belittle any of the artisitc or alternate styles of writing that have previously been used in this thread but I would appreciate a more generic and modern english response so as I can fully comprehend the valuable information that you will hopefully bestow upon me. And in appreciation to your creative writing in this thread I will also try to write this with a little more style than usual.

Well so far I have been yeilding the Head Flexpoint Prestige Midplus and I do enjoy it, it hits some good shots at times when I am playing good and hit the sweetspot. It has nice pop and when I hit the sweetspot I can hit some good deep shots with spin and pace. However on off center shots they ball is flat, or has no pace of it will loop up really high in the air. I have to have good positioning and can't swing too fast or I'll frame it or hit offcenter. The closed string pattern on the weapon dost not always provide me with all the spin I could get.

So I am considering getting a PDR. I demoed the new PD with cortex briefly and my impression was that I hit some nice hard forehands, it had amply pop, good pace and ok control that i could prolly get used to.

Would this raquet help to keep advancing me? Can I still become a better player? Or does this racquet inhibit you on the stickly babolat style?

So please help me out in my decision (as a western fh and two handed backhand player) to swithc to the babolat or not!

Click to expand...

A sort of loaded question?

Yes, you can still advance playing with a PDR. Heck, Roddick plays with a PDR so there's no limit. The only thing that can stop you advancing is you...

This is probably a good racket for your style of play as there's tons of spin in the PDR and you use a western grip. Since you use a two handed backhand, you may also want to check out the PDR+.

I return from a long sojurn whence I discovered the new APD verily with CORTEX!!!

I must say that methinks this will be a Vast improvemnent but the Paint on this sabre methinks is a bit too Jolly for such a noble sabre. I yearn for the days of yore whence I wore the True black and yellow colors of my crest.

What say you Knights of the Babble table??? How dost thou vote on this new Babble Sabre?